68.
449
It might be noted that the French were Britain's allies in the subsequent capture of Canton.
In concluding this comment, it should be mentioned that the unflattering references to Hongkong amenities, quoted above, were written by Mr. Laurence Oliphant, who accompanied Lord Elgin as his private secretary. The fact that there appeared to be no suitable shore residence for the Mission, who were obliged to dwell aboard a ship in Harbour, is of considerable interest.
For some time past I have been giving extracts from books and other records, dated between 1845 and 1860, which leave us to-day a good idea of what Hongkong's early days were like. It is fortunate that these narratives exist; without them, we should be largely dependent on guesswork, based on meagre paragraphs from what remains of the Press of those times.
I conclude these extracts, for the present, with a remarkably clear impression of the Colony in 1854, written by J.M. Tronson, a visitor who had an opportunity to observe the life of Hongkong's early foreign and Chinese residents, as well as the growth of the city little more than a decade after it was colonised. He writes:
"Daily improving in importance and in appearance, handsome structures for business, or as residences for the merchants, arise in all directions; hills are cut away, to form terraces for new buildings, and the streets in the Chinese part of the City are becoming uniform and neat. As a Chinese house is pulled down or burnt, the person about to rebuild it is compelled to do so according to a plan regulated by the Colonial Government.
"Part of the City named Tai-pin Shan, is inhabited by the Coolies, and by refugees and scoundrels from all parts of the Empire of China, whose lives have been forfeited to the laws of their country for some crime, such as murder or piracy. (See 10-3-34). Some of those outcasts prowl about the island, and commit various depredations whenever they meet with defenceless people; others act as spies for the pirates who frequent the neighbouring isles, and give speedy information of the departure from the port of any well-laden junk.
"There is a very good club in Hongkong, (see 23-10-33) provided with billiard rooms, library, and dining rooms. It is a very great convenience for strangers, and a pleasant rendezvous for the gentry of the place. Through the courtesy of the proprietors, officers of the Navy have the privilege of becoming members by merely paying a monthly subscription of three dollars.
"The merchants' houses are commodious and well built, cool and thoroughly ventilated. Stores well provided with every article of European commerce or American manufactures, are to be found in the leading street (Queen's Road). Here also are the usual public buildings, such as Barracks, Court House, Dockyards, and a very fine Military Hospital, with handsome garden attached: a great boon to the convalescent. (On the seafront, now Wellington Barracks, see 25-9-33). A Colonial Merchant Seaman's Hospital is situated above the town, at a considerable elevation above the sea. (Near the present Government Civil Hospital, see 14-11-33). The drainage has of late been considerably improved, and will tend materially to produce a salutary change in the atmosphere.
68.
449
It might be noted that the French were Britain's allies in the subsequent capture of Canton.
In concluding this comment, it should be mentioned that the unflattering references to Hongkong amenities, quoted above, were written by Mr. Laurence Oliphant, who accompanied Lord Elgin as his private secretary. The fact that there ap- peared to be no suitable shore residence for the Mission, who were obliged to dwell aboard a ship in Harbour, is of consider- able interest.
For some time past I have been giving extracts from books and other records, dated between 1845 and 1860, which leave us to-day a good idea of what Hongkong's early days were like. It is fortunate that these narratives exist without them, we should be largely dependent on guesswork, based on meagre paragraphs from what remains of the Press of those times.
I conclude these extracts, for the present, with a remarkably clear impression of the Colony in 1854, written by J.M. Tronson, a visitor who had an opportunity to observe the life of Hongkong's early foreign and Chinese residents, as well as the growth of the city little more than a decade after it was colonised. He writes:
"Daily improving in importance and in appearance, handsome structures for business, or as residences for the merchants, arise in all directions; hills are cut away, to form terraces for new buildings, and the streets in the Chinese part of the City are becoming uniform and neat.ceili As a Chinese house is pulled down or burnt, the person about to rebuild it is compelled to do so according to a plan regulated by the Colonial Government.
" part of the City named Tai-pin Shan, is inhabited by the Coolies, and by refugees and scoundrels from all parts of the Empire of China, whose lives have been forfeited to the laws of their country for some crime, such as murder or piracy. (See 10-3-34). Some of those outcasts prowl about the island, and commit various depredations whenever they meet with defence- less people; others act as spies for the pirates who frequent the neighbouring isles, and give speedy information of the departure from the port of any well-laden junk.
"There is a very good club in Hongkong, (see 23-10-33) provided with billiard rooms, library, and dining rooms. It is a very great convenience for strangers, and a pleasant rendezvous for the gentry of the place. Through the courtesy of the proprietors, officers of the Navy have the privilege of becoming members by merely paying a monthly subscription of three dollars.
"The merchants' houses are commodious and well built, cool and thoroughly ventilated. Stores well provided with every article of European commerce or American manufactures, are to be found in the leading street. (Queen's Road). Here also are the usual public buildings, such as Barracks, Court House. Dockyards, and a very fine Military Hospital, with handsome garden attached: a great boon to the convalescent. (On the seafront, now Wellington Barracks, see 25-9-33). A Colonial Merchant Seaman's Hospital is situated above the town, at a considerable elevation above the sea. (Near the present Government Civil Hospital, see 14-11-33). The drainage has of late been considerably improved, and will tend materially to produce a salutary change in the atmosphere.
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